Shaquil Barrett
After playing five seasons in Denver, he was a mediocre player at best, they let him go and test free agency. Tampa Bay took a chance on him and all he did was reward them with a record-breaking season. Barrett went from recording just 14.5 sacks in his five years at the Mile High, to leading the NFL for 2019 and breaking the Buccaneers all-time team record for sacks (19.5), previously held by the great Warren Sapp (18). Not only was the sack total a personal best, but he set career highs across the board in tackles (59), solos (45), tackles for a loss (19), QB hits (37), forced fumbles (6), and interceptions (1).
Was he a one year wonder? Or is Barrett just a perfect fit in Tampa Bay? Can he have this success if he goes elsewhere? No matter your answer to these questions, Barrett is going to be paid handsomely by some team. He played 2019, on a one year $4m deal and projects to command five times that this offseason. He has said that he’d be willing to give the Bucs a home town discount, but even if he does, he will still come out a winner. Will he chase the big bucks? Or will he stay in Tampa Bay, where he knows he can succeed? My gut says that he stays with Bucs and with his small sample size of success, that’s the right move for him.
Yannick Ngakoue
I’ll admit, I have been critical of Ngakoue’s play, and not just because he was a Jaguar and I’m a Titan’s fan. My being down on him more than others is strictly due to his inconsistency throughout his career. There is no doubt about the talent that he has as a pass rusher, but he has to be more consistent if he wants to be elite.
Ngakoue is everything you want in a pass rusher! Has been healthy, playing in 63 of a possible 64 games and starting 62. Productivity is there as well, as he’s produced 85 QB hits, 37.5 sacks, 42 tackles for a loss, and 14 forced fumbles. Again it’s the consistency! Here’s what I mean. He’s had eight games over his career with at least two or more sacks, which accounts for 17 of 37.5 total, but has 35 games with zero sacks. As a comparison, Danielle Hunter has had at least one sack in 22 of his last 32 games.
What does all this mean for Ngakoue moving forward? In my opinion, the writing is on the wall for him in Jacksonville. They haven’t lived up to expectations lately and there have been some upper management issues. Ngakoue wants to get paid and I’m not sure he believes the Jaguars give him the best chance to win. Does that mean he’s bailing? Do the Jaguars want him back and are they willing to meet the market price? I don’t know for sure but at the end of the day, I think he follows the money, wherever that may be.
Jadeveon Clowney
At age 27, Clowney will be entering his eighth season in the league. Up to this point, there have been mixed results from the freakish athlete. Injuries have been an issue throughout his career, as he’s only played all sixteen games in a season just once. However, there is no doubt the impact he can have on the field when healthy. During his first three seasons in the league, all with Houston, Clowney played in 31 of a possible 48 games, while starting just 25. Over his last three seasons, two with Houston and one with Seattle, he would play 44 of 48 possible games, while starting 41. Just being available made him a much better player, during those same two splits, his numbers went up across the board. Tackles from 99 to 137, solos from 72 to 100, sacks from 10.5 to 21.5, QB hits from 25 to 55, tackles for a loss 27 to 44, forced fumbles from one to seven, recoveries from zero to eight and defensive touchdowns from zero to four.
As you can see the impact play is there and it’s all tied to him being healthy. For now, he appears to have that behind him. The Texans traded Clowney to Seattle as a one-year rental for a third-round pick, because they either didn’t want to pay up or couldn’t afford the big payday he was racing towards. The Seahawks finally got the pass rusher they have been needing. Did they like what they saw last season enough, to pay up and keep him in Seattle or will the market price be too much for them? I believe they will definitely be one of the top suitors for his services.
Thanks for reading my article and if enjoyed it, you can read more of my articles at dynastyfootballfactory.com. You can also follow me on social media, on Twitter at Hollywood@DFF_DWin, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub I’m user KingTitan1 and you can tune in each week and listen to the podcasts, IDP Nation that I co-host, on a number of different platforms. Feel free to hit me up with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
